Mayor Johnson Reconsiders Use of ShotSpotter Amid Criticism

Mayor Brandon Johnson is currently reevaluating his prior decision to halt operations of the contentious ShotSpotter system. His previous decision has prompted a hasty search for alternative police technology methods, a move that has sparked criticism from a segment of community leaders who argue it is hastily organized and irregular. SoundThinking, the company that owns ShotSpotter, was among the eight firms that decided to propose their technologies for citywide ‘gunfire detection systems’, as the records from the bid process which ended last week indicate. Yet, Johnson had previously criticized ShotSpotter as being merely ‘a walkie-talkie on a pole’, arguing it to be a misuse of public funds.

A source involved in the ongoing search for a replacement technology suggested Johnson’s decision to discontinue the use of ShotSpotter last fall may not have accounted for the ensuing implications. This resulted in a hurried attempt to get the bidding process underway. Participants in a bidders’ meeting that took place in February expressed disappointment with city officials, blaming them for the scarcity of details provided. Attendees, some of whom had traveled out of state, were taken aback by the brief, 15-minute summary of the proposal request document.

One of the attendees, noting the unusual nature of the meeting, commented, ‘This was definitely out of the ordinary.’ Among the attendees was the founder and CEO of Databuoy, Kathleen Griggs, who traveled from Vienna, Virginia. Databuoy produces the Shotpoint system, which is marketed as ‘the fastest, most precise fully automated gunshot detection and localization platform.’ Griggs recalled city officials being notably terse, merely repeating previously known information and urging attendees to direct any inquiries online.

Griggs commented on the executives’ clear lack of willingness to explore the distinctive features and compelling contrasts among the various gunfire detection technologies available in the market. Due to this, her firm decided against submitting a proposal. Highlighting the principle guiding their decision, Griggs stated, ‘We’re going to go and help whatever cities actually want us there.’ Out of the fifteen companies that initially responded to the ‘request for information’, presenting a variety of tech solutions, only eight decided to submit their proposals.

Subsequently, representatives from 24 firms attended a curt meeting at the Public Safety Headquarters. As the process drew to a close, just eight companies submitted their final bids for the new contract, though some of these have formed alliances with other firms. Each of these companies offers their unique take on gunfire-detection technology, their proposals differentiated by how they position themselves in relation to ShotSpotter.

Bronzeville-based TEquity Partners, founded by Malcolm Weems, designed their proposal with deliberate efforts to address the administration’s issues voiced about ShotSpotter. Weems’ organization is bringing forward Dragonfly, an advanced system conceptualized by Albuquerque-based EAGL, that identifies gunfire by recognizing ‘energy signatures’ as opposed to merely sounds. He commented, ‘What we’re hoping to deliver is something that is a lot more accurate than what we had with ShotSpotter.’ The proposed system would also present more economic efficiency, he added.

Contrastingly, President and Co-founder of Tupelo, Mississippi-based Crime Gun Intelligence Technologies, Tim Kelly, proposed their FireFLY LE technology, a gunshot detection scheme initially intended for military utilization. Kelly claims this technology’s multiple microphone system can accurately determine the origin of a gunshot, even amidst multiple sound stimulations, reducing the risk of false alarms significantly. Stressing the significance of this feature, Kelly stated, ‘The last thing you ever want to do, from a law enforcement perspective, is send a patrol officer to the wrong location.’ He added that a false dispatch could precipitate a wrongful search or even an arrest.

Meanwhile, a company named Jelware seeks to leverage ubiquitous mobile devices as a means of realizing gunshot detection, proposing a solution that alerts citizens and law enforcement agencies in case of nearby gun violence incidents. The company’s founder Jacobs underscored the suitability of their digital, contactless approach for the current era, stating ‘Everyone has their electronic devices 24/7, and that’s what’s going to be their detector.’

Another contender, Blue Hammer Technology from Tampa, suggests their innovative artificial intelligence platform that can identify matching forensic evidence across multiple crime scenes. This AI system lets law enforcement personnel go through images from thousands of cameras to identify recurrent patterns which could potentially point to criminals or their weapons. This AI model has the added benefit of scanning textual or audio data to discern matching pieces of evidence.

An additional tool developed by the same company targets mobile phones by ‘sniffing the airwaves’ for unique numbers associated with SIM cards, enabling authorities to locate specific cellphones. According to Diego Lopez, the senior solutions partner for Norwegian gunshot detection firm Triangula, Blue Hammer is submitting its bid in combination with other tech companies including Triangula, Microsoft, Samsung, and others.

However, the proposals of the three other bidders remain undisclosed. Companies like Silver Star Protection Group based in Rolling Meadows, West Loop’s Motorola Solutions, and Austin-based Lyons View Manufacturer and Supply refrained from commenting on their bids. It’s noteworthy that Silver Star is a well-known security firm, and Motorola Solutions has previously won significant city contracts for camera infrastructure and radio equipment.

Lyons View, led by President Joshua Davis, is known for its diverse portfolio of contracting and subcontracting work, which ranges across sectors including street lighting projects, airport expansions, as well as construction work within education. While the specifics of their bid proposal still remain under wraps, it is clear that this marks a significant moment in the city’s ongoing quest to find capable, reliable, and just alternatives for the controversial ShotSpotter system.

Ultimately, the city’s future in gunfire detection technology will lie in the hands of the winning bid—a decision met with both excitement and apprehension from parties involved. Mayor Johnson’s initial decision, and the ensuing search that it has sparked, have certainly set the stage for what is likely to be a transformative period in how gun violence is detected and responded to in the city. Yet, despite the prospective changes on the horizon, the ultimate goal remains resolute: to maintain public safety and order in a manner that is respectful of every taxpayer’s contribution.